James Spader Lands Lead in NBC Pilot ‘The Blacklist’

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) – James Spader is getting back into the law game – albeit on the other side of the fence this time.

“Boston Legal” star Spader has been tapped to star in the NBC pilot “The Blacklist.”

The drama pilot revolves around the world’s most wanted criminal, who mysteriously turns himself in and offers to give himself up and rat out his accomplices — on the condition that he’s allowed to work with a newly minted FBI agent with whom he seemingly has no connection.

Spader will play Red, a former Army intelligence officer who went AWOL. Described as dignified, worldly and magnetic, Red is not a spy, but a facilitator, brokering ideas for criminals.

“He has no country. No political agenda … his only allegiance is to the highest bidder,” according to a description of Spader’s character.

Jon Bokenkamp (“The Call”) wrote the pilot and is also executive producing, with John Eisendrath, John Fox, John Davis also executive producing.

Spader’s most recent television gig was a run on NBC’s “The Office,” as Dundler Mifflin CEO Robert California.